Techniques for performing garbage collection on an object array using array chunk references is described. A garbage collector (GC) thread identifies an object array to be processed. The GC thread divides the object array into array chunks. The GC thread generates array chunk references corresponding respectively to the array chunks. Each array chunk reference comprises: (a) chunk start bits representing a memory address of a start of a corresponding array chunk, and (b) chunk length bits representing a chunk length of the corresponding array chunk. The GC thread pushes the array chunk references onto the processing stack. A single processing stack concurrently stores multiple array chunk references, associated with a same object array. One or more of the array chunk references, that are associated with the same object array and stored on the processing stack, may be distributed to other GC threads for processing.